Written Answers Thursday 20 April 2006

Scottish Executive

Avian Influenza

Iain Smith (North East Fife) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps are being taken to minimise the economic impact on the East Neuk of Fife following the discovery of a dead swan infected with the H5N1 strain of avian influenza.

Ross Finnie: The Scottish Executive has introduced a surveillance zone in the East Neuk area within which heightened biosecurity measures have been included. No restrictions on access to the countryside have been put in place so the area is very much open for business. The Scottish Executive is monitoring the impact of avian flu on the Scottish egg and poultry sectors and is working with the industry to assess the situation. These steps will help to minimise any economic impact of avian influenza on the East Neuk of Fife.

Cancer

Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the five-year survival rate is for prostate cancer patients in each (a) NHS board area and (b) parliamentary constituency.

Mr Andy Kerr: Five year relative survival (%) for prostate cancer by NHS board area of residence is attached in the following table (a).

  For five year relative survival (%) for prostate cancer by parliamentary constituency I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-24684 on 20 April 2006. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.

  The relatively small numbers of patients in each health board/Scottish parliamentary constituency preclude a complex analysis with adjustment for case mix. Statistically, where the Scottish survival rate lies outside the 95% confidence interval for a particular parliamentary constituency, there is a 5% possibility that this difference occurred due to chance and a 95% possibility that the difference is not due to chance. However, multiple comparisons of this kind against the Scottish rate increases the likelihood of a difference arising due to chance. In this case the large number of comparisons require that any apparently significant results should be viewed with caution.

  A thorough investigation of prostate cancer incidence and survival was published last year by NHS Quality Improvement Scotland and included a three-year relative survival analysis. Nationally the relative survival from prostate cancer at three years was 79.4% and no NHS board had a relative survival that was significantly lower than the Scotland figure. More information is available from Clinical Indicators 2005 a copy of which has been placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 39379). The document is also available to download at: www.nhshealthquality.org/nhsqis/files/Clinical%20Indicators%202005.pdf.

  Data on newly diagnosed cancers in Scotland are recorded on the Scottish Cancer Registry. The most recent five-year period of data currently available is 1998-2002. More comprehensive data on prostate cancer can be found on the Scottish Health Statistics website at: www.isdscotland.org\cancer_information.

  (a) Five Year Relative Survival (%) for Prostate Cancer (ICD-10 C61) by NHS Board Area of Residence, Patients Diagnosed 1998-2002

  

NHS Board Area
Number of Registrations
Survival (%)
95% Confidence Interval


Argyll and Clyde
745
66.2
60.1 - 71.6


Ayrshire and Arran
803
70.5
64.6 - 75.7


Borders
238
65.6
53.5 - 75.3


Dumfries and Galloway
323
72.7
62.9 – 80.2


Fife
612
66.3
59.7 – 72.1


Forth Valley
647
84.8
78.0 – 89.6


Grampian
1,080
77.7
73.0 – 81.7


Greater Glasgow
1,458
66.7
62.4 – 70.6


Highland
537
77.2
70.4 – 82.6


Lanarkshire
786
66.5
60.9 – 71.5


Lothian
1,646
81.0
77.0 – 84.4


Orkney
38
60.0
31.9 – 79.6


Shetland
31
58.3
31.9 – 77.5


Tayside
760
68.6
62.4 – 74.0


Western Isles
63
72.4
50.0 – 86.1


Scotland
9,767
72.7
71.1 – 74.2



  Source: Scottish Cancer Registry.

  Date extracted: March 2006.

Cancer

Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the mortality rate was for (a) chronic lung disease, (b) all forms of cancer and (c) coronary heart disease in each year since 1999, broken down by NHS board.

Mr Andy Kerr: The mortality rate for (a) chronic lung disease, (b) all forms of cancer and (c) coronary heart disease in each year since 1999, broken down by NHS board for those aged under 75 and for all ages is provided in tables which have been placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 39376). The tables show a Scotland-wide fall in premature mortality over the five year period from 1999 to 2004 of (a) 22% from chronic lung disease, (b) 7% from cancer and (c) 30% from coronary heart disease.

Cancer

Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the (a) incidence of and (b) survival rates for (i) ovarian, (ii) lung, (iii) bladder, (iv) breast, (v) bowel, (vi) prostate, (vii) throat, (viii) mouth, (ix) stomach and (x) testicular cancer were in each parliamentary constituency in each year since 1999.

Mr Andy Kerr: Data on newly diagnosed cancers in Scotland are recorded on the Scottish Cancer Registry. The incidence data for all 10 sites are presented in a spreadsheet for each year (1999-2002) by Scottish parliamentary constituency a copy of which has been placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 39377).

  It is not possible to calculate survival for a single year by parliamentary constituency as the numbers of patients are too small. Data on the five year relative survival based on the diagnosis period 1998-2002 are presented in a spreadsheet a copy of which has been placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 39377).

  The relatively small numbers of patients in each health board/Scottish parliamentary constituency preclude a complex analysis with adjustment for case mix. Statistically, where the Scottish survival rate lies outside the 95% confidence interval for a particular parliamentary constituency, there is a 5% possibility that this difference occurred due to chance and a 95% possibility that the difference is not due to chance. However, multiple comparisons of this kind against the Scottish rate increases the likelihood of a difference arising due to chance. In this case the large number of comparisons require that any apparently significant results should be viewed with caution.

  More comprehensive cancer data can be found on the Scottish Health Statistics website at: www.isdscotland.org\cancer.

Climate Change

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what changes it will make to schools’ procurement guidelines to ensure that they contribute to the Executive’s Climate Change Programme objectives.

Robert Brown: The Executive’s Scottish Procurement Directorate provides advice on best practice procurement to local authorities in Scotland, including guidance on sustainability. It is expected that local authorities, who are responsible for the procurement of schools, would reflect best practice and ministerial objectives in their own policy and procedures.

  In addition, Changing Our Ways: Scotland’s Climate Change Programme includes a commitment to publish a Scottish Sustainable Procurement Action Plan by the end of 2006, which will further assist local authorities in ensuring that their procurement policy contributes to the objectives of the Climate Change Programme.

Council Tax

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many pensioners have spent more than 10% of their disposable income on council tax in each year since 1999, broken down by local authority area.

George Lyon: The following table presents results from the Family Resources Survey on the number of pensioner households which have paid more than 10 per cent of their gross income on council tax between 1999-2000 to 2004-05.

  Table: Estimates of the Number of Pensioner Households Which Have Paid More Than 10 Per Cent of Their Gross Income on Council Tax Between 1999-2000 to 2004-05 (000)

  

Years
1999-2000
2000-01
2001-02
2002-03
2003-04
2004-05


Number of pensioner households
80
80
70
120
110
110



  Source: Family Resources Survey.

  Data is not available at local authority level.

  Council tax benefit is deducted from council tax in calculating the 10 per cent threshold, and is not included in gross income.

  A pensioner household is defined as either one pensioner living alone or a couple where at least one is a pensioner and the household does not contain any children.

  The figures are estimates based on a sample survey and are therefore subject to sampling variation. Identification of trends should be based on several years of data.

Council Tax

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what information it has on the number of pensioners who have been entitled to claim council tax benefit in each year since 1999, broken down by local authority area.

George Lyon: The information requested is not available. This data is available only at Great Britain level.

  Latest estimates of the number of pensioners in Great Britain who are entitled to Council Tax Benefit, along with Pension Credit, Minimum Income Guarantee and Housing Benefit can be found in the DWP report entitled Income Related Benefits Estimates of Take-Up in 2003/2004. The publication can be found at: http://www.dwp.gov.uk/asd/income_analysis/final0304.pdf.

Council Tax

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what information it has on the number of pensioners who have claimed council tax benefit in each year since 1999, broken down by local authority area.

George Lyon: The information requested, where available, is shown in the following table:

  Council Tax Benefit Recipients Aged 60 and Over (000)

  

Local Authority Area
May 1999
May 2000
May 2001
May 2002
May 2003
May 2004
May 
2005


Scotland
299.0
275.0
281.0
284.0
275.0
275.4
278.0


Aberdeen 
 
 
 
 
 
8.3
8.4


 Aberdeenshire
 
 
 
 
 
7.2
7.5


Angus
 
 
 
 
 
5.2
5.4


Argyll and Bute
 
 
 
 
 
4.5
4.5


Clackmannanshire 
 
 
 
 
 
2.3
2.4


Dumfries and Galloway
 
 
 
 
 
7.6
7.5


Dundee 
 
 
 
 
 
9.9
9.6


East Ayrshire
 
 
 
 
 
7.9
8.0


East Dunbartonshire
 
 
 
 
 
3.4
3.5


East Lothian 
 
 
 
 
 
4.5
4.6


East Renfrewshire
 
 
 
 
 
2.7
2.8


Edinburgh
 
 
 
 
 
18.1
18.5


Eilean Siar
 
 
 
 
 
2.1
2.2


Falkirk
 
 
 
 
 
7.7
7.9


Fife 
 
 
 
 
 
16.1
15.8


Glasgow
 
 
 
 
 
51.3
50.1


Highland 
 
 
 
 
 
9.7
10.1


Inverclyde 
 
 
 
 
 
5.8
5.9


Midlothian 
 
 
 
 
 
3.7
3.7


Moray
 
 
 
 
 
3.5
3.7


North Ayrshire 
 
 
 
 
 
8.0
8.3


North Lanarkshire
 
 
 
 
 
20.7
21.1


Orkney 
 
 
 
 
 
0.8
0.8


Perth and Kinross
 
 
 
 
 
5.3
5.5


Renfrewshire 
 
 
 
 
 
10.3
10.5


Scottish Borders 
 
 
 
 
 
5.4
5.5


Shetland 
 
 
 
 
 
0.7
0.8


South Ayrshire 
 
 
 
 
 
5.9
6.1


South Lanarkshire
 
 
 
 
 
18.3
18.8


Stirling 
 
 
 
 
 
3.4
3.5


West Dunbartonshire
 
 
 
 
 
7.4
6.9


West Lothian 
 
 
 
 
 
7.8
8.0



  Notes:

  1. 1999-2003 figures are based on a 1% sample and are therefore subject to a degree of sampling variation.

  2. The data refers to benefit units, which may be a single person or a couple.

  3. Data below Scotland level is not available prior to May 2004.

  4. 2004-05 figures for non-responding authorities have been estimated.

  5. Council Tax Benefit totals exclude any Second Adult Rebate cases.

  6. "Aged 60 and over" is defined as benefit units where the claimant and/or partner are aged 60 and over therefore figures will contain some claimants under 60 where there is a partner aged over 60 years.

Drug and Alcohol Misuse

Miss Annabel Goldie (West of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many facilities offer drug and alcohol rehabilitation to people under 16, showing the number of places in each facility.

Hugh Henry: Information provided by the alcohol and drug action teams show that in 2004-05, there were 21 specialist drug/alcohol services dedicated solely to under 16s, and a further 36 with specialist facilities or workers for under 16s. We cannot provide information on the number of places in each facility, given the varying definitions of the term used by different services.

Education

Michael McMahon (Hamilton North and Bellshill) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it supports schools developing curricular specialities to promote higher attainment.

Robert Brown: We are committed to improving attainment and achievement for all pupils through the National Priorities in Education and are supporting education authorities and schools so that they can make these improvements in ways that best meet the needs of all their pupils.

  This includes support for the development of specialist curricula, through programmes such as Centres of Excellence, Schools of Ambition, the Future Learning and Teaching programme and Gaelic Medium Education.

Education

Lord James Douglas-Hamilton (Lothians) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how the proposed candidate number database system will conform with the requirements for data subject access under the Data Protection Act 1998, particularly as the data subjects are not supposed to know their Scottish candidate numbers.

Peter Peacock: There is no intention to keep the allocated Scottish Candidate Numbers (SCNs) secret from pupils or parents/carers. This issue has clearly been wrongly reported in some places. In fact it could potentially be very helpful for pupils and their parents/carers to know their SCN. Pupils will be allocated their SCN through their school’s management and information system.

Education

Lord James Douglas-Hamilton (Lothians) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is intended that biometric data will be recorded in the candidate number database and, if not, what alternative methods will be implemented to prevent records being confused or identities being stolen from the proposed candidate number database system.

Peter Peacock: It is not intended that biometric data (such as finger print details, iris scanning) will be recorded. The only change to a school’s management and information system database is the addition of the allocated Scottish Candidate Number (SCN). The new arrangement involves no change to Scottish Qualifications Authority’s (SQA) candidate database since there are no requirements to submit candidate data to SQA until the point the candidate is sitting an SQA examination. The allocation of SCNs will be monitored on an annual basis, initially by Education Department through the annual pupil census, to maintain the identifier’s uniqueness.

Education

Lord James Douglas-Hamilton (Lothians) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive who will be able to read the information on the candidate number database; who will have access to update it; what measures will be taken to prevent authorised or unauthorised access by individuals who might specifically wish to identify vulnerable young people, and whether there will be cross-matching of individuals who have, or could have, access to the data with information in other databases, such as the sex offenders’ list.

Peter Peacock: Existing arrangements for schools management and information system (MIS) in respect of security will apply as will Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) arrangements in respect of secondary school pupils presented for examinations.

  Access to data in a schools MIS for school staff is password controlled and on a need to know basis, of which the head teacher has oversight and responsibility.

  The SQA is a notified data controller under the terms of the Data Protection Act (No Z5781759). All SQA staff are briefed on the requirements of this Act, irrespective of their access to the data. SQA centres are allowed limited access to the data pertaining to their candidates, this access conforms to the Data Protection Act.

  The Scottish Executive Education Department fully complies with the terms of the Data Protection Act (No. Z4857137).

Education

Lord James Douglas-Hamilton (Lothians) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how parents’ rights will be protected by keeping Scottish candidate numbers secret from them and how parents will be able to gain access to the data stored on their children.

Peter Peacock: There is no intention to keep the allocated Scottish Candidate Numbers (SCNs) secret from pupils and parents. This issue has clearly been wrongly reported in some places. Schools are required under the terms of the Data Protection Act (DPA) to regularly request data subjects and their parents/carers to check the data held about them.

  The Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) does not collect data directly from candidates or parents, so in order to comply with the requirements of the DPA to issue a "fair collection notice", SQA’s Operational Guide issued to all centres has details of the SQA’s DP Notifications as well as guidance to centres on informing candidates that their information is passed to SQA, and the use SQA make of it. Additionally, the guide includes a statement as to the right of subject access and contains a copy of SQA’s DPA Subject Access Request Form.

Education

Lord James Douglas-Hamilton (Lothians) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what the projected (a) set-up and (b) annual running costs will be of the proposed candidate number database system and what the timescale is for effective implementation of the system.

Peter Peacock: The chosen solution minimises costs and workload in schools. The set up cost is £40,000; running costs are negligible. The allocation of Scottish Candidate Numbers to all pupils from primary 1 onwards will be completed by June 2006.

Education

Frances Curran (West of Scotland) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive what impact the Chancellor of the Exchequer’s Budget announcement of extra funding for schools will have on per capita spending in Scottish schools.

Peter Peacock: Scotland has benefited from an additional £87 million of funding as a result of the Chancellor’s Budget announcements. These consequentials accrue to the Scottish Block as a whole. As such, Scottish ministers will allocate these additional resources in due course consistent with their own priorities.

Education

Murray Tosh (West of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will present the information contained in Placing Requests in Schools in Scotland, 2004/05 , published on 21 March 2006, in such a way as to show separately the outcome of placing requests from parents resident in the areas of the local authorities to whom the requests were made and those of requests from parents resident in a local authority area other than the one to which the placing request was made.

Peter Peacock: The information requested is not currently collected. As part of our on-going improvement in the quality of our statistics we have already put in place arrangements to collect information on the number of placing requests made across local authority boundaries, and whether or not they are successful. It will therefore be available in the placing requests statistics for 2005-06.

Education

Murray Tosh (West of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the information showing the reasons for refusing placing requests, contained in table 8 of Placing Requests in Schools in Scotland, 2004/05 , published on 21 March 2006, is collected on a local authority basis and, if so, whether it will publish the information in respect of each local authority.

Peter Peacock: The information requested is collected on a local authority basis. A table, Placing Requests Refused by Reason for Refusal, All schools, by Local Authority, 2004-05 , has been placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 39385).

European Union

Mr Jim Wallace (Orkney) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive who Scotland’s full and alternate members of the Regional Chamber of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of Europe will be for the two-year mandate which begins in May 2006.

Mr Tom McCabe: The names of George Lyon MSP, as the full member and Phil Gallie MSP, as the alternate member, have been forwarded to the Council of Europe, under the procedure agreed by the government of the United Kingdom for appointing the UK delegation to the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of Europe.

Fisheries

Rob Gibson (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many fishing vessels were registered in each of the last 10 years (a) in total and (b) broken down by port, showing year-on-year percentage changes.

Ross Finnie: Information about the numbers of vessels by port of registration is collected and maintained by the Registrar of Shipping and Seamen of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency.

  For the information requested for the number of vessels registered at Scottish ports in 2000 to 2005 (as at 1 January), I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-12991 on 18 January 2005. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.

  For the information requested for the number of vessels registered at Scottish ports in 1997 to 1999 and 2006 (as at 1 January), table 1 presents the number of vessels by port of registration and table 2 presents these figures as annual percentage changes. These figures differ from those presented in the Scottish Fisheries Statistics publication where "administrative (base) port" is used throughout.

  The percentage changes between 1 January 2005 and 1 January 2006 are affected by special exercises carried out in 2005 to "weed" inactive vessels from the Register who for more than six months have had no licence to fish.

  Table 1 - Number of Fishing Vessels by Port of Registration in Scotland - 1997 to 1999 and 2006 (as at 1 January Each Year)

  

Port of Registration
Year (as at 1 January)


1997
1998
1999
2006


Aberdeen
46
36
41
24


Achiltibuie
0
0
0
1


Annan
16
11
11
5


Anstruther
27
25
24
23


Arbroath
33
34
27
20


Ardnamurchan
18
17
17
7


Ardrishaig
9
7
5
5


Arisaig
29
28
23
20


Avoch
13
12
4
5


Ayr
16
17
22
18


Ballantrae
4
4
7
7


Banff
0
0
0
1


Benbecula
14
14
15
14


Bernera (Lewis)
21
24
20
16


Bernera (N Uist)
8
6
5
6


Boddam
10
9
9
8


Bracadale
8
6
6
3


Broadford
11
9
9
12


Brora
4
4
4
5


Buckie
75
71
56
51


Burghead
7
6
6
3


Burnmouth
10
8
9
3


Burntisland
5
5
4
2


Bute
11
15
15
12


Campbeltown
42
37
34
27


Carradale
16
20
20
14


Castlebay
60
60
54
48


Catterline
2
1
2
0


Central Mainland (Shetland)
7
11
13
9


Coll
7
6
6
5


Colonsay
2
1
1
0


Cove (Leith)
2
2
2
2


Crail
9
11
10
9


Crinan
1
1
1
0


Cumbraes
0
0
0
0


Drummore
11
11
11
8


Dunbar
13
17
16
12


Dunbeath
5
5
5
3


Dunrossness and Fair Isle
12
13
18
17


Dunure
6
5
5
6


Dunvegan
14
16
16
11


Erribol
6
8
8
6


Eyemouth
38
38
29
27


Findochty
5
4
4
1


Fort William
7
4
4
7


Fraserburgh
164
164
160
104


Gairloch
13
10
12
6


Gardenstown
34
34
35
24


Gareloch
2
2
2
1


Gigha
7
8
8
5


Girvan
16
13
13
7


Glasgow
0
0
0
0


Gourdon
15
15
15
13


Granton
12
11
13
8


Greenock
8
9
10
8


Grimsay
23
23
22
14


Gruinard - Aultbea
4
5
5
5


Helmsdale
14
17
13
6


Hopeman
10
11
10
5


Hoy
13
12
13
7


Invergordon
1
2
0
3


Inverness
13
11
4
3


Islay
41
43
42
31


Isle of Whithorn
17
17
16
5


John O’Groats
28
27
23
16


Johnshaven
5
5
5
6


Jura
4
3
3
4


Keiss
11
10
9
7


Kinlochbervie
13
13
14
15


Kirkcaldy
1
0
0
0


Kirkcudbright
28
27
26
26


Kirkwall
61
54
50
43


Kyle
32
33
29
27


Kylesku
4
4
2
1


Largs
1
1
1
1


Leith
1
1
1
0


Lerwick
45
48
56
39


Loch Buie (Mull)
2
2
2
2


Loch Carnan
1
1
1
1


Loch Glendcoul -Culkein
3
2
2
1


Loch Scridain (Isle Mull)
35
36
37
19


Lochboisdale
0
0
0
1


Lochinver
22
20
20
14


Lossiemouth
29
22
17
6


Luing
17
20
25
18


Lybster
8
9
8
7


Macduff
51
44
47
32


Maidens
2
2
2
0


Mallaig
60
59
56
46


Methil and Leven
11
12
12
12


Montrose
24
20
17
10


North Arran
9
10
10
3


North Berwick
7
7
7
4


North Harris
4
4
2
2


North Uist
37
40
41
29


Northmavine
6
7
8
10


Oban
66
64
69
45


Pennan
1
1
1
0


Peterhead
144
137
138
85


Pittenweem
22
22
23
21


Port Ellen
2
2
2
2


Port Erroll
7
3
2
1


Port Seton
30
26
24
15


Port William
1
1
1
0


Portknockie
9
9
7
5


Portmahomack
8
5
1
6


Portnaguran
6
10
9
10


Portpatrick
4
4
4
1


Portree
26
29
30
25


Portskerra
5
5
4
1


Portsoy
4
5
5
6


Rosehearty
8
6
5
7


Rothesay
1
1
1
0


Rousay to Shapinsay
6
6
8
2


Sanday
21
22
18
9


Sandhaven and Pitullie
7
6
6
7


Scalloway and Isles
58
58
56
35


Scalpay
24
25
27
19


Scourie
2
3
2
7


Scrabster
25
23
38
20


Shetland
0
0
0
1


Sleat
2
4
3
3


Snizort
9
8
7
7


South Harris
24
23
24
22


South Lochs
19
16
17
16


South Ronaldsay
16
16
14
14


South Uist and Eriskay
44
44
43
40


St Abbs
14
15
15
11


St Andrews
17
18
16
10


St Monance
9
9
9
2


Stonehaven
10
10
8
8


Stornoway
63
56
48
45


Stranraer
10
8
8
4


Strathaird
13
11
13
12


Stromness
37
32
30
14


Stronsay
3
3
5
9


Tarbert
27
31
33
29


Tayinloan
4
4
5
4


Tayvallich
5
6
5
5


Thurso
1
1
1
0


Tingwall
0
2
5
16


Tiree
8
8
9
5


Tobermory (Isle of Mull)
24
25
24
15


Torridon
24
27
26
20


Troon
37
40
36
30


Ullapool
49
44
45
47


Unspecified Scottish Port
2
0
0
1


West Loch Tarbert
6
6
5
5


West Mainland (Shetland)
27
30
28
19


Westray
42
42
39
33


Whalsay and Skerries
37
39
47
37


Whitehills
19
19
16
14


Wick
34
32
31
21


Yell and Fetlar
22
18
21
16


All Scottish ports
2,774
2,709
2,641
2,004



  Source: Register of Shipping and Seamen.

  Table 2 – Annual Percentage Change in Number of Fishing Vessels by Port of Registration in Scotland - 1997-98 to 1999-2000 and 2005-06 (as at 1 January Each Year)

  

Port of Registration
Year (as at 1 January)


1997-98
1998-99
1999-2000
2005-06


Aberdeen
-22%
14%
-7%
-4%


Achiltibuie
-
-
-
0%


Annan
-31%
0%
-18%
0%


Anstruther
-7%
-4%
17%
-4%


Arbroath
3%
-21%
-7%
0%


Ardnamurchan
-6%
0%
-24%
-22%


Ardrishaig
-22%
-29%
60%
-29%


Arisaig
-3%
-18%
-9%
-5%


Avoch
-8%
-67%
25%
0%


Ayr
6%
29%
-5%
0%


Ballantrae
0%
75%
-14%
0%


Banff
-
-
-
0%


Benbecula
0%
7%
0%
-13%


Bernera (Lewis)
14%
-17%
5%
-27%


Bernera (N Uist)
-25%
-17%
20%
-14%


Boddam
-10%
0%
0%
-11%


Bracadale
-25%
0%
0%
-25%


Broadford
-18%
0%
-56%
-14%


Brora
0%
0%
-25%
0%


Buckie
-5%
-21%
5%
0%


Burghead
-14%
0%
-33%
0%


Burnmouth
-20%
13%
-22%
0%


Burntisland
0%
-20%
-50%
0%


Bute
36%
0%
0%
0%


Campbeltown
-12%
-8%
0%
-23%


Carradale
25%
0%
-5%
0%


Castlebay
0%
-10%
0%
-8%


Catterline
-50%
100%
0%
-


Central Mainland (Shetland)
57%
18%
0%
-10%


Coll
-14%
0%
0%
-17%


Colonsay
-50%
0%
0%
-100%


Cove (Leith)
0%
0%
0%
0%


Crail
22%
-9%
0%
-18%


Crinan
0%
0%
-100%
-


Cumbraes
-
-
-
-


Drummore
0%
0%
-9%
-11%


Dunbar
31%
-6%
-6%
-8%


Dunbeath
0%
0%
0%
0%


Dunrossness and Fair Isle
8%
38%
-11%
6%


Dunure
-17%
0%
20%
0%


Dunvegan
14%
0%
-25%
-8%


Erribol
33%
0%
-13%
0%


Eyemouth
0%
-24%
-10%
-7%


Findochty
-20%
0%
-25%
0%


Fort William
-43%
0%
50%
-13%


Fraserburgh
0%
-2%
-2%
-6%


Gairloch
-23%
20%
-25%
-14%


Gardenstown
0%
3%
-14%
-4%


Gareloch
0%
0%
0%
0%


Gigha
14%
0%
-13%
0%


Girvan
-19%
0%
-8%
-13%


Glasgow
-
-
-
-


Gourdon
0%
0%
-7%
0%


Granton
-8%
18%
-15%
-20%


Greenock
13%
11%
0%
-20%


Grimsay
0%
-4%
-5%
-13%


Gruinard - Aultbea
25%
0%
-20%
0%


Helmsdale
21%
-24%
-8%
-45%


Hopeman
10%
-9%
0%
0%


Hoy
-8%
8%
0%
0%


Invergordon
100%
-100%
-
-25%


Inverness
-15%
-64%
-25%
-25%


Islay
5%
-2%
0%
-11%


Isle of Whithorn
0%
-6%
-19%
-17%


John O’Groats
-4%
-15%
-4%
-16%


Johnshaven
0%
0%
0%
0%


Jura
-25%
0%
0%
0%


Keiss
-9%
-10%
0%
0%


Kinlochbervie
0%
8%
0%
-6%


Kirkcaldy
-100%
-
-
-


Kirkcudbright
-4%
-4%
4%
-10%


Kirkwall
-11%
-7%
-2%
-7%


Kyle
3%
-12%
0%
-7%


Kylesku
0%
-50%
-50%
0%


Largs
0%
0%
0%
-


Leith
0%
0%
0%
-


Lerwick
7%
17%
4%
-5%


Loch Buie (Mull)
0%
0%
0%
0%


Loch Carnan
0%
0%
0%
0%


Loch Glendcoul -Culkein
-33%
0%
0%
-50%


Loch Scridain (Isle Mull)
3%
3%
-3%
-14%


Lochboisdale
-
-
-
0%


Lochinver
-9%
0%
0%
-7%


Lossiemouth
-24%
-23%
-12%
20%


Luing
18%
25%
8%
-10%


Lybster
13%
-11%
13%
0%


Macduff
-14%
7%
-4%
-3%


Maidens
0%
0%
0%
-


Mallaig
-2%
-5%
5%
-10%


Methil and Leven
9%
0%
0%
9%


Montrose
-17%
-15%
-6%
-23%


North Arran
11%
0%
-10%
-50%


North Berwick
0%
0%
0%
-33%


North Harris
0%
-50%
-50%
0%


North Uist
8%
3%
5%
-22%


Northmavine
17%
14%
13%
0%


Oban
-3%
8%
-13%
-20%


Pennan
0%
0%
0%
-100%


Peterhead
-5%
1%
-8%
-4%


Pittenweem
0%
5%
-4%
-5%


Port Ellen
0%
0%
0%
0%


Port Erroll
-57%
-33%
0%
0%


Port Seton
-13%
-8%
-4%
-6%


Port William
0%
0%
0%
-


Portknockie
0%
-22%
-14%
-17%


Portmahomack
-38%
-80%
100%
-14%


Portnaguran
67%
-10%
22%
-23%


Portpatrick
0%
0%
0%
0%


Portree
12%
3%
0%
-7%


Portskerra
0%
-20%
-25%
-50%


Portsoy
25%
0%
-20%
0%


Rosehearty
-25%
-17%
20%
-13%


Rothesay
0%
0%
-100%
-


Rousay to Shapinsay
0%
33%
-13%
-50%


Sanday
5%
-18%
6%
-10%


Sandhaven and Pitullie
-14%
0%
17%
0%


Scalloway and Isles
0%
-3%
0%
-3%


Scalpay
4%
8%
-4%
0%


Scourie
50%
-33%
0%
0%


Scrabster
-8%
65%
-8%
-5%


Shetland
-
-
-
0%


Sleat
100%
-25%
-33%
-25%


Snizort
-11%
-13%
-14%
-22%


South Harris
-4%
4%
4%
0%


South Lochs
-16%
6%
6%
0%


South Ronaldsay
0%
-13%
-7%
-18%


South Uist and Eriskay
0%
-2%
-2%
-7%


St Abbs
7%
0%
40%
-8%


St Andrews
6%
-11%
0%
-17%


St Monance
0%
0%
-22%
100%


Stonehaven
0%
-20%
-38%
0%


Stornoway
-11%
-14%
-2%
-6%


Stranraer
-20%
0%
-25%
-33%


Strathaird
-15%
18%
0%
-8%


Stromness
-14%
-6%
-7%
0%


Stronsay
0%
67%
60%
0%


Tarbert
15%
6%
0%
-6%


Tayinloan
0%
25%
-20%
-20%


Tayvallich
20%
-17%
0%
0%


Thurso
0%
0%
-100%
-


Tingwall
-
150%
60%
0%


Tiree
0%
13%
11%
-29%


Tobermory (Isle of Mull)
4%
-4%
0%
-21%


Torridon
13%
-4%
-12%
-5%


Troon
8%
-10%
-6%
-3%


Ullapool
-10%
2%
-7%
-8%


Unspecified Scottish Port
-100%
-
-
0%


West Loch Tarbert
0%
-17%
-20%
0%


West Mainland (Shetland)
11%
-7%
-7%
-5%


Westray
0%
-7%
-5%
0%


Whalsay and Skerries
5%
21%
-9%
-5%


Whitehills
0%
-16%
-13%
0%


Wick
-6%
-3%
-3%
-16%


Yell and Fetlar
-18%
17%
-5%
-20%


All Scottish ports
-2%
-3%
-4%
-8%



  Source : Register of Shipping and Seamen.

Fisheries

Eleanor Scott (Highlands and Islands) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it will take to promote the use of sustainable feed in Scottish salmon farms, in light of Pan Fish’s stated aim of "lowest cost production" resulting from its proposed merger with Marine Harvest.

Rhona Brankin: Sustainability is at the core of the Scottish Executive’s Strategic Framework for Scottish Aquaculture. At a recently convened stakeholder workshop on feed sustainability, the main conclusion was that further research is required to provide a better understanding of the issue, so that future actions can be taken on the basis of the best scientific knowledge available. A proposal for further research will be put to Scottish Aquaculture Research Forum.

Health

Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many (a) consultant oncologists, (b) diagnostic radiographers and (c) MRI scanners there were per 100,000 people in each year since 1999, broken down by NHS board.

Mr Andy Kerr: Information on the headcount number of clinical and medical consultant oncologists is provided in an Excel workbook entitled Consultant Oncologists per 100,000 Population by NHS Board 1999-2005 , a copy of which has been placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 39396). The rate per 100,000 population is shown.

  Centrally held information on the number of radiographers in post does not currently provide a breakdown between therapeutic and diagnostic radiographers. The information you request is not, therefore, available.

  Information on the number of radiographers in NHS Scotland is, however, published on the Scottish Health Statistics website under Workforce Statistics, at www.isdscotland.org/workforce. In particular, tables F1 and F2 show the whole-time equivalent (WTE) and headcount number of radiographers by NHS board from 1995 onwards. Latest available data is at 30 September 2005.

  Limited information on diagnostic radiographers is available from the ISDScotland Allied Health Professionals vacancy data collection for 2005 only. Whole-time equivalent staff in post is presented in Table F7 on the Scottish Health Statistics website, referred to above.

  The information you request on MRI scanners is not held centrally.

Housing

Rob Gibson (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many households have been on waiting lists for local authority housing in each of the last five years in (a) total and (b) each local authority area, expressed also as a ratio of households on the lists to local authority housing and showing year-on-year percentage changes.

Malcolm Chisholm: The numbers of households on waiting lists for each local authority are published on an annual basis for 2000-01 onwards in the quarterly Scottish Executive Statistical Bulletin (Housing Series)  Housing trends in Scotland: quarters ending 31 March. This is available on-line in the publications section of the housing statistics branch reference site ( http://www.scotland.gov.uk/stats/housing/hsbref ). The most recent figures are for 2004-05 (HSG/2005/4) and figures for 2005-06 will be published later this year. Figures on local authority housing stock as at 31 March are also available in this publication.

Housing

Murray Tosh (West of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether its understanding of the proposed planning gain supplement is that it will apply to any category, or all categories, of affordable housing development in Scotland.

Malcolm Chisholm: The UK Government is considering the scope of planning-gain supplement - and any exemptions to it - in light of responses to its recent consultation. We do not have any information at this stage about its applicability to affordable housing developments.

Justice

Colin Fox (Lothians) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive what lessons can be learned from the case against Steven Johnston and Billy Allison who spent 10 years in jail for a murder they did not commit.

Cathy Jamieson: I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-24614 by the Lord Advocate on 4 April 2006. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search .

Justice

Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many people have been (a) prosecuted and (b) convicted for evading a train fare in each of the last eight years.

Cathy Jamieson: The available information is given in the following table. Cases of evading train fares may also be prosecuted as charges of common law fraud, but these cannot in general be distinguished separately from other convictions for fraud in the data held centrally. The court proceedings statistics for 2004-05 are planned for publication on 27 April 2006.

  Persons Proceeded Against in Scottish Courts Relating to Evasion of Train Fares1, 1996-2003

  

  Year of Sentence  

  1996
  

  1997
  

  1998
  

  1999
  

  2000
  

  2001
  

  2002
  

  2003
  


Total
18
19
17

  16
  
5
2
5

  20
  


 of which charge proved
17
18
11
12
5
2
5
18



  Note: 1. Where main offence was a relevant offence under section 5 of the Regulation of Railways Act 1889 or a charge of fraud specified as relating to a train fare.

Justice

Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many drivers have been prosecuted for offences contrary to sections (a) 3 and (b) 34 of the Road Traffic Act 1998 in each of the last eight years, broken down by police force.

Cathy Jamieson: The available information is given in the following tables. The court proceedings statistics for 2004-05 are planned for publication on 27 April 2006.

  Road Traffic Act 1988 Section 3 Offences Proceeded Against in Scottish Courts, 1996-2003

  

Police Force Area
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003


Central 
259
238
225
218
180
213
236
257


Dumfries and Galloway
305
313
214
285
198
186
232
259


Fife 
510
461
380
310
298
357
403
373


Grampian 
915
914
978
766
589
666
612
782


Lothian and Borders 
619
783
693
442
422
450
539
524


Northern 
633
595
485
423
337
348
433
540


Strathclyde 
3,096
2,847
2,119
1,977
1,745
1,838
1,726
1,887


Tayside 
588
491
434
420
367
418
493
606


Scotland
6,925
6,642
5,528
4,841
4,136
4,476
4,674
5,228



  Road Traffic Act 1988 Section 34 Offences Proceeded Against in Scottish Courts, 1996-2003

  

Police Force Area
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003


Central 
1
-
-
-
2
4
-
3


Dumfries and Galloway
-
-
-
1
1
-
2
3


Fife 
-
-
-
1
2
7
8
6


Grampian 
6
6
6
1
4
4
5
16


Lothian and Borders 
1
3
2
2
1
4
18
7


Northern 
1
-
4
1
-
-
6
1


Strathclyde 
7
11
5
5
7
11
21
15


Tayside 
-
4
4
3
2
3
13
9


Scotland
16
24
21
14
19
33
73
60



  Note: 1. Figure may be an underestimate due to time taken to record details of some court proceedings.

Justice

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-21872 by Colin Boyd QC on 18 January 2006, whether, when it states that the forcible removal of an individual against their will may constitute the crime of abduction in Scots law, this means that in some cases it does constitute the crime of abduction but in others it does not.

Colin Boyd QC: I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-21871 on 18 January 2006. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search .

Land Ownership

Eleanor Scott (Highlands and Islands) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive how much land in Scotland the Ministry of Defence (a) owns and (b) has rights over and how these figures have changed over the last decade.

Cathy Jamieson: The Scottish Executive has no function in relation to land the Ministry of Defence owns in Scotland.

Lord Advocate

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Lord Advocate has attended any party political meetings in his official capacity since his appointment to the post.

Colin Boyd QC: I have not attended any party political meetings in an official capacity since taking up my current appointment in February 2000. I have, however, attended the Scottish Conference of the Labour Party, but in a personal capacity, as a member of the Labour Party. I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-10299 on 21 September 2004. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search .

Mental Health

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-23237 by Lewis Macdonald on 14 March 2006, whether the answer is consistent with the convention that ministers should be as open as possible with the Parliament and the public, in light of instances where tribunals have not held required hearings, such as those referred to by the Administration of the Mental Health Tribunal of Scotland in the case of the petition of John Smith, Mental Health Officer for Fife Council, for judicial review of the Mental Health Tribunal.

Lewis Macdonald: The answer given in response to S2W-23237 was factually correct, and reflected the fact that the tribunal has always arranged hearings when required to do so. At the time of the question on no occasion had the Mental Health Tribunal failed to hold a hearing to examine an application for a Compulsory Treatment Order, either because of the lack of availability of a panel or for any other reason, and that remains the case. The Mental Health Tribunal has held a hearing to consider every valid application for a Compulsory Treatment Order received to date. Eighteen cases have been heard outwith the statutory timescales provided in the act: 14 due to errors of interpretation made by Mental Health Officers in the completion of applications; one due to an administrative error by the Tribunal, and three where the applications were received on the date of expiry of the original Short Term Detention Certificates and the tribunal considered it did not have time to arrange a Hearing within the statutory timescales. In all cases hearings were arranged as soon as possible but after the expiry of the respective Short-Term Detention Certificates. Following a Judicial Review the Tribunal policy of not arranging immediate Hearings for applications received late in the 28 day period of the Short-Term Detention Certificate has now been changed so that when a venue is not available within the required timescales the Hearing will be held at the next nearest available venue, or if that is not suitable at the Tribunal Suite in Bothwell House, Hamilton.

Mental Health

Roseanna Cunningham (Perth) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what training is given to police officers to help them identify and deal with people with mental health issues in the course of their duties.

Cathy Jamieson: It is important that all police officers have a basic understanding of mental health law and how it relates to them as officers and society as a whole. Each force has its own internal equal opportunity awareness training to assist staff involved in community liaison or community safety roles. This training is augmented by training at the Scottish Police College at Tulliallan, which provides a wider understanding of mental health law, the appropriate adult scheme and the complex issues surrounding the policing of a diverse society.

Mental Health

Roseanna Cunningham (Perth) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how it is monitoring the effectiveness of guidance to police officers to involve an appropriate adult to provide support and assurance for victims, witnesses or accused persons who have a mental health problem.

Cathy Jamieson: The Scottish Executive is represented on the Scottish Appropriate Adult Network, along with several other organisations, including the police and appropriate adult scheme co-ordinators. This group is taking forward the 72 recommendations of Dr Lindsay Thomson’s report into Appropriate Adult Schemes, and this includes updating the guidance. A summary of the research findings can be found at: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/cru/resfinds/crf78-00.asp .

Non-Departmental Public Bodies

Paul Martin (Glasgow Springburn) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what measures are being taken to make non-departmental public bodies more open and accountable.

Mr Tom McCabe: Openness and Accountability are fundamental elements of the corporate governance framework under which all non-departmental public bodies (NDPBs) operate.

  Ministers are committed to assessing the corporate governance framework and the continuing relevance of the existing model – and of course new requirements on Freedom of Information, Best Value and Efficient Government are designed to ensure that NDPBs are open and accountable to ministers and to Parliament.

Oil and Gas Industry

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-23937 by Allan Wilson on 20 March 2006, what benefits it considers arise from exploration and utilisation of sources of oil in the Atlantic Ocean.

Allan Wilson: Exploration and development activities in the North Sea are an important contributor to Scotland’s economy, with the oil and gas sector supporting some 90,000 Scottish jobs and generating some £10 billion of associated expenditure across the UK as a whole.

  Exploration and utilisation of oil and gas resources in the Atlantic waters West of Shetland could be expected to require a range of skills and services similar to those offered by firms currently supporting such activity in the North Sea. Against that background it would appear reasonable to anticipate that in the longer term, considerable economic benefits could flow to Scotland, from exploitation of the hydrocarbon reserves lying beneath these more distant waters.

Pensions

Carolyn Leckie (Central Scotland) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of the written ministerial statement by the UK Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Trade and Industry on the statutory redundancy payments scheme ( Official Report , House of Commons, 2 March 2006, Vol 443, c 39WS) which states that the EU Employment Directive "provides for the possibility of Member States providing for different treatment on the grounds of age, where this difference of treatment is objectively and reasonably justified by a legitimate aim, including employment policy", whether it will give any further consideration to whether the local government pension scheme rule of 85 should be abolished on the grounds of age discrimination and whether it will now publish the legal advice it has received on the matter in order that it can be compared to legal advice received by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State.

Mr Tom McCabe: I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-21675 on 17 January 2006. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search .

  The rationale for having to remove the rule of 85 to be consistent with Directive 2000/78/EC is that the purpose of the Directive is to set out a general framework for equal treatment, including combating discrimination on age grounds in employment and occupation. The rule of 85 in the Local Government Pension Scheme for Scotland clearly discriminates on age grounds because two members with the same length of service but different ages who retire on the same day are affected differently. Depending on their age, one would receive an unreduced pension (as they satisfy the rule), whilst the other would not. This therefore amounts to less favourable treatment on the grounds of age.

  Article 6.1 of the Directive allows for differences of treatment on age grounds in some circumstances where a member state can establish that the differences are objectively and reasonably justified by a legitimate aim, and the means it chooses to achieve that aim are proportionate. Hence, in order for the rule of 85 (which is considered to be discriminatory on age grounds) to be allowed to continue beyond the Directive’s deadline, it must be an objectively justifiable means of meeting a legitimate aim. No such legitimate aim has so far been identified that would be consistent with the Directive.

  In addition, the Directive provides that age discrimination in relation to pensions may be allowed to continue under Article 6.2 in specific, narrow circumstances. However, the Executive does not consider that the rule of 85 falls within the terms of Article 6.2. The rule is not a provision for fixing the age of entitlement to retirement benefits nor is it an actuarial calculation. It also has a disparate impact on the grounds of sex (as proportionately more males would qualify under the rule than females, who tend to have shorter service). Article 6.2 cannot be used to continue an age discriminatory provision which also discriminates on grounds of sex. The rule therefore cannot be retained under this article of the Directive.

  Member states are obliged to implement the requirements of the Directive before December 2006 and the UK Government’s policy is to implement them by October 2006 by means of Great Britain Regulations. Following a period of statutory consultation the Department of Trade and Industry has laid draft Regulations before the Westminster Parliament. If approved they will commence on 1 October 2006. In order to comply with the law, therefore, and following the same approach as DTI the rule of 85 will have to be removed from the Local Government Pension Regulations to coincide with that date.

Planning

Murray Tosh (West of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-23450 by Malcolm Chisholm on 9 March 2006, whether the planning gain proposed in the business case and in the Private Bill to provide powers for the Borders railway falls within the category of planning obligations which would be scaled back in the event that the Executive was to apply the same scaling back as is proposed in the consultation on planning gain supplement.

Malcolm Chisholm: Policy on planning agreements and future obligations under section 75 of the Town and Country Planning Act (Scotland) 1997 is a devolved matter. We have not come to any conclusion on whether policy on planning obligations should be amended, and will do so in the light of the consultation responses and further discussions with the UK Government on how planning gain supplement will be designed and implemented.

Planning

Murray Tosh (West of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-23450 by Malcolm Chisholm on 9 March 2006, whether it understands it to be possible, under the proposals for planning gain supplement, for developers and/or landowners to be exempted from planning gain supplement in circumstances where planning obligations have been entered into under section 75 of the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1997 in order to provide funding for infrastructure which is the subject of an act of the Scottish Parliament arising from a Private Bill.

Malcolm Chisholm: The UK Government’s consultation paper on a planning-gain supplement states that it is envisaged that planning obligations would be factored into the planning value for any site. Any obligations entered into under section 75 would therefore be a prior charge and deducted from the calculation of planning gain supplement liability.

Prison Service

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive on how many occasions illegal drugs have been seized from prisoners by prison officers in each year since 1999, broken down by prison.

The Executive have supplied the following corrected answer:

Cathy Jamieson: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:

  The information is not available in the format requested. The following table relates also to drugs found on visitors or from concealment in prison. Figures are available only from 2001-02 onwards.

  

Establishment
2001-02
2002-03
2003-04
2004-05


Aberdeen
24
79
36
27


Barlinnie
144
142
202
176


Castle Huntly
4
3
11
11


Cornton Vale
43
47
43
42


Dumfries
6
19
32
17


Edinburgh
143
226
256
184


Glenochil Prison
89
91
67
93


Glenochil YOI
16
19
1
0


Greenock
33
51
63
75


Inverness
22
42
60
61


Kilmarnock
102
86
139
111


Low Moss
80
76
62
80


Noranside
3
2
5
5


Perth
50
99
118
164


Peterhead
4
2
3
1


Polmont
50
64
82
137


Shotts
70
36
47
60

Rendition Flights

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-22705 by Colin Boyd QC on 7 February 2006, in what way this answer indicates for whom the Executive considers it would be unhelpful if it speculated as to what would constitute a credible allegation in respect of the allegations that US agencies have used Scottish airports to facilitate the process of "extraordinary rendition".

Colin Boyd QC: Speculation would not be helpful to anyone who was responsible for decisions in relation to criminal investigations or proceedings.

Rendition Flights

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-22495 by Cathy Jamieson on 2 February 2006, whether it has a definitive figure for the number of communications it has received expressing concern that flights using Scottish airports have been involved in unlawful activity and, in particular, that they may have been involved in the process known as "extraordinary rendition" and, if so, what this figure is.

Cathy Jamieson: The majority of communications we have received on the subject of "extraordinary rendition" have been in the form of written parliamentary questions. Since 21 November 2005 there have been 149; of these, 85 were submitted by Alex Neil MSP.

Rendition Flights

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-23744 by Cathy Jamieson on 24 March 2006 and given her confirmation of her statement at the Labour Party’s Scottish conference, whether it considers that coverage in the Sunday Mail was misleading as her statement does not explicitly indicate that she pledged to stop Scottish airports being used to facilitate the process of "extraordinary rendition" by US agencies.

Cathy Jamieson: I have nothing to add to my answer to question S2W-23744 of 24 March 2006. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search .

  The way in which the media report statements made by politicians is a matter for them.

Research

Mrs Nanette Milne (North East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive when phase 1 of its communication support needs research programme is due to report and whether the report will be published.

Mrs Nanette Milne (North East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive when phase 2 of its communication support needs research programme is due to (a) start and (b) report.

Mrs Nanette Milne (North East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what the projected funding is for phase (a) 1 and (b) 2 of its communication support needs research programme and what the schedule is for spending on the programme.

Mrs Nanette Milne (North East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what the membership will be of its communication support needs research programme steering group.

Mrs Nanette Milne (North East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how members of its communication support needs research programme steering group will be selected.

Malcolm Chisholm: The Scottish Executive has already started commissioning the first phase of the programme of research on communication support needs by inviting expressions of interest from potential contractors asking them to tender for the work. The first phase will comprise a review of existing research to help assess the scale and range of communication support needs. It will also identify which groups of people are more likely to have these needs. We expect phase one to report in autumn 2006.

  The findings from this exercise will inform the second phase of the work. We aim to commission phase two in autumn 2006 once the implications of phase one have been carefully considered. We do not know at this stage when phase 2 will report. This will depend on the scale and scope of the work and we cannot anticipate this prior to the results of phase one.

  Once we have developed a detailed set of requirements, each phase of the research tendering process will be subject to government procurement rules. These rules do not allow us to publish cost information in advance of issuing the tenders.

  A research advisory group will be assembled once the contract has been let in accordance with Social Research Procedures for Commissioning and Managing research. Individuals with particular expertise in the field will be invited to join the group to offer advice on various aspects of the research as it progresses. The main role of the group is to help ensure the successful completion of the research as defined in the research specification and successful tender. The successful contractors will be required to liaise with this advisory group at key points throughout the duration of the research and to attend meetings where appropriate.

  We intend to publish the findings from all phases of this research programme.

Scottish Criminal Record Office

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the former Minister for Justice, Mr Jim Wallace MSP, asked his department to investigate the issues described in a Sunday Times article on 26 February 2006 as having been reported to him by a "whistleblower" from within the Scottish Criminal Record Office (SCRO) who alleged that the complainant had become a victim of "bullying, intimidation, harassment and victimisation" by SCRO management; if so, on what date such a request was made by the former Minister for Justice and to which official or officials; what action was subsequently taken in respect of the complaint; whether the present Minister for Justice will make a statement to the Parliament about how the complaint was dealt with, whether it was dealt with by the Justice Department and, if so, who was in charge of handling the complaint; in particular, whether in the handling of the complaint, there was any attempt to seek further information from the "whistleblower"; whether any conclusion was reached about the complaint and, if so, what that conclusion was and by whom it was handled; whether all documents in relation to the complaint will be made public, and, in so doing, whether it will consider, for the protection of the complainant against any possible bullying, intimidation, harassment or victimisation, whether his or her name shall be redacted when such documents are provided.

Cathy Jamieson: I understand this letter was sent to the Lord Advocate. A reply was sent on his behalf requesting further information in relation to the point raised which concerned Crown Office, in respect of a particular case. This information was subsequently provided and it was clear at that stage that fingerprint evidence had not been presented to the Procurator Fiscal in the case in question and no further action was required by Crown Office at that time.

  The original letter was also forwarded by the Crown Office to the Justice Department, in relation to the issues involving SCRO. As these were management issues for SCRO to deal with, it would not have been appropriate for the Justice Minister to intervene. At that time SCRO management issues, particularly in relation to the Fingerprint Bureau, were already being addressed comprehensively on the basis of the HMIC Primary Inspection of the SCRO Fingerprint Bureau, the report of which had been published in September 2000.

Scottish Executive Publications

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many strategy documents it has issued in each year since 1999, broken down by ministerial portfolio.

George Lyon: Links to strategy, policy, consultation and other documents issued by the Scottish Executive in each year since 1999 are available on the Scottish Executive website. Each document is identified against a policy heading (which may cover the interests of more than one ministerial portfolio). Details of the Scottish Executive Publication Scheme are also available on the Scottish Executive website http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Government/FOI/19260/18084 .

Scottish Executive Publications

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the total cost was of issuing Executive strategy documents in each year since 1999, broken down by ministerial portfolio.

George Lyon: The Scottish Executive issues a wide range of policy, strategy, consultation and other documents electronically, in print and in other formats. No central record is kept of the costs of issuing these documents for each ministerial portfolio.

Telecommunications

Ms Sandra White (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will consider a moratorium on the construction of TETRA masts until the health implications are fully understood.

Johann Lamont: The most authoritative assessments of the scientific evidence available to date have concluded that it is unlikely that the special features of the signals from TETRA installations pose a hazard to health. The TETRA mobile communications system has been adopted by the emergency services in the UK because of its demonstrable advantages for the security and efficiency of the services that they provide. The Scottish Executive therefore does not believe it appropriate to consider a moratorium on the construction of TETRA masts on the grounds of public health.

Tourism

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has had, or plans to have, any discussions with VisitScotland and the City of Edinburgh Council regarding creating a distinct Edinburgh tourist board.

Patricia Ferguson: The Scottish Executive has had no discussions with VisitScotland and the City of Edinburgh Council regarding the creation of an Edinburgh tourist board and no such discussions are planned. VisitScotland and its Edinburgh office currently markets the city as a world-class destination for leisure tourists, while the Edinburgh Convention Bureau promotes all that Edinburgh has to offer as a quality business tourism destination.